National Health Service Act 2006

24 Plans for improving health etc E+W

(1) Each Primary Care Trust must, at such times as the Secretary of State may direct, prepare a plan which sets out a strategy for improving—

(a) the health of the people for whom it is responsible, and

(b) the provision of health care to such people.

(2) Each Primary Care Trust must keep under review any plan prepared by it under this section.

(3) Each local authority whose area falls wholly or partly within the area of a Primary Care Trust must participate in the preparation or review by the Primary Care Trust of any plan under this section.

(4) In preparing or reviewing any plan under this section, a Primary Care Trust—

(a) must consult, or seek the participation of, such persons as the Secretary of State may direct, and

(b) may consult, or seek the participation of, such other persons as it considers appropriate.

(5) The Secretary of State may give directions as to—

(a) the periods to be covered by plans under this section,

(b) the action to be taken by Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and local authorities in connection with the preparation or review of plans under this section,

(c) the matters to be taken into account in connection with the preparation or review of plans under this section,

(d) the matters to be dealt with by plans under this section,

(e) the form and content of plans under this section,

(f) the publication of plans prepared or reviewed under this section,

(g) the sharing of information between Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Local Health Boards and local authorities in connection with the preparation or review of plans under this section or section 17 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42),

(h) the provision by Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Local Health Boards of reports or other information to the Secretary of State in connection with plans under this section or section 17 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).

(6) In exercising its functions—

(a) a Primary Care Trust must have regard to any plan prepared or reviewed by it, and to any plan in relation to which it has participated by virtue of subsection (4).

(b) a Strategic Health Authority must have regard to any plan prepared or reviewed by a Primary Care Trust any part of whose area falls within its area, and

(c) a local authority must have regard to any plan in relation to which it has participated.

(7) For the purposes of this section, the persons for whom a Primary Care Trust is responsible are—

(a) the people in the area of the Primary Care Trust, and

(b) such of the people outside the area as may be specified in directions given by the Secretary of State.

(8) “Health care” means—

(a) services provided to individuals for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness, and

(b) the promotion and protection of public health.